Improvement in axle-skeins for vehicles



N. L. HOLMES. Axle-Skein for Vehicles.

No. 216,615. Patented June 17, 1879 v WITNEESEE H ilPh/EHTEHK z/a. akaM.

UNITED STATES NATHAN L. HOLMES, OF RAOINE, WISCONSIN.

IMPROVEMENT IN AXLE-SKE INS FOR VEHICLES.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No.

216,615, dated J une 17, 1879; application filed March 18, 1879.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, NATHAN L. HOLMES, of Racine, in the county of Racineand State of Wisconsin, have invented certain new and usefulImprovements in ThimbleSkeins for Wagons; and I hereby declare that thefollowing is a full, clear, and exact description thereof, referencebeing h ad to the accompanying drawings, and to the letters of referencemarked thereon, which form a part of this specification.

My invention relates to the class of thimbleskeins in which the thimbleis formed up of sheet-steel; and consists in a novel form of blank,which furnishes both upper and lower wristextensions continuous with thespindle portion, and which brings the seam or weld of the meeting edgesin the spindle on one side of the latter, instead of on the top, asheretofore.

' lower extensions of such width and form as nearly or quite to envelopor embrace the axle back of the spindle, such complete wrist havinglateral joints only, so that the clip applied thereto, after the thimblehas been forced upon the axle, will more easily bind the wrist to theaxle.

of construction, and of the completed and applied skein, that will behereinafter more fully explained, and indicated in the claims.

The object of my invention is to give greater strength to the skein, tothe attachment of the skein to the axle, and to the axle at the innerpoint of attachment, and also to obviate special objections to a seam orweld situated on the top of the spindle, as will be further shown. Inthe drawings, Figure 1 shows a blank from which my improved skein ismade. Figs.

7 2 and 3 show opposite sides of the completed skein applied to theaxle. Fig. 4 is a longitudinal vertical section of the skein and axle,and Fig. 5 is a transverse section thereof immediately back of the clip.

Referring to Fig. 1, that portion of the blank bounded by the lines d e,c f, f g, and g a d is intended to form the spindle of the skein, andthe wings a b c d and a i h g the upper and lower wrist or axleextensions thereof, respectively.

Preparatory to forming the thimble from the It consists, further, incertam other features l blank and uniting the edges (1 c and gf, themargins of the win gs are drawn out and thinned down under the hammer,and, either at this stage or when the thimble is formed, the upperextension or wing is given the spring necessary to fit the pitch of theupper line of the axle. Ihis may be done by hammering the seam along andnear the extremities of the in g the thimble over a suitable former. Thelower w'ristextension is in line with the lower face of the spindle S.

In Figs. 2 and 3 are shown the positions assumed by the several edges ofthe blank when the latter is shaped up to form the skein and the skeinis secured to the axle. The meeting edges of the spindle portion areseen in Fig. 3 to lie in a median line at one side of the spindle, whichgives greatly-increased strength to the spindle, and prevents theadmission of oil or other lubricant inside the skein should the meetingedges of wings that form the wrist are also lateral to the axle X, oneon each side, which is a position favorable to tight clamping of thewrist upon the axle by means of the clip L.

It is not essential to my invention, so far as the same relates to theupper and lower wristpieces being continuous with the spindle portion ofthe skein, that said wrist-pieces shall drawings. Substantially the sameeffect is secured, so far as appearance and strength are concerned, ifsaid edges are at first left slightly apart, while if proper space isleft between them the clip may, from time to time, be tightened withouthinderance from their meetin g and without springing the clip off bytheir overlapping.

In the manufacture of my improved skein as an article of merchandise, Ipropose to shrink on the collar 0, or otherwise secure the same inplace, before shipment; but it may be applied to the skein after thelatter has been forced upon the spindle or axle. In applying the collar,of should, at least, slightly overlie the end of the cut a l), whichbrings the collar to bear against the increased pitch or rise of thewrist, in which position it will more firmly resist the line a d; orthis spring maybe given by swagjoint or weld prove imperfect. The jointsor actually meet at their edges, as shown in the the inner or back edgetherethrust of the wheel and be more permanently held in place. The clipL is held from slipping down upon the wrist by the lug R, swaged up orotherwise formed on the upper wrist-extension, as shown.

The wheel-nut N'is held by the nipple or plug P, welded into the spindleS, as seen in Fig. 4; or opposite nipples on the same axle may beconnected by a light metal strip let into the under face of the axle, asshown in an application for patent made by me and now pending.

I prefer to locate the joint formed of the meeting edges ofthe spindleportion of the skein on the front side of the spindle, for the purposeboth of greater strength and of excluding the oil from the wood when thejoint is imperfect. This requires that the skeins be made rights andlefts, which will be accomplished by shaping up blanks in oppositedirections.

Having thus described my invention, I claim and desire to secure byLetters Patent- 1. The blank for a thimble-skein, having wings to formupper and lower wrist-extensions continuous with the spindle portion,substantially as described.

2. The blankfor a thimble-skein, having a lower axle-extension andformed to bring the meeting edges of the spindle portion at one side ofthe spindle, as set forth. 3. A thimble-skein formed from sheet metal,andha'ving upper and lower axle'extensions continuous with the spindleportion, substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

4. A thimble-skein formed of sheet metal, having one or moreaxle-extensions continuous with the spindle portion, and the jointformed by the meeting edges of said spindle portion located on one sideof the spindle, as described.

5. A thimble-skein formed of sheet metal, and having an axle extensionor wrist adapted to nearly or quite embrace the axle back of thespindle, so as to give lateral as well as vertical support to thespindle, substantially as described.

6. The thimble-skein described, having upper and lower wrist-extensions,and having the upper extension sprung to smoothly fit the increased riseof the axle back of the spindle, substantially as described and shown.

7. The sheet-metal thimble-skein having the upper Wrist-extension shown,PPOKldGd with the lug R, for the purpose of holding the clip in place,as set forth. 7

8. The thimble-skein having an upper wristextension sprung to rest onthe rise of the axle back of the spindle, combined with the collar U,embracing the skein at the point of increased rise, substantially as andfor the purpose set forth.

9. The combination of the thimble-skein formed of sheet metal, having aWrist portion continuous with the spindle and made of two parts, or withopen seams on opposite sides of the wrist, with the collar.O and theclip L, substantially as shown and described.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my invention I affix mysignature in presence of two witnesses.

NATHAN L. HOLMES.

